Carry-on bicycle contained by a single channel in a chassis

摘要

The teachings provided herein are generally directed to compact vehicle drive mechanisms that can be used in the design of a foldable, carry-on vehicle. The compact drive mechanisms presented herein, for example, have contributed to the advent of the compact, carry-on bicycles set-forth in the teachings which include drive-and-steering units and drive-and-chassis units.

主权项

1. A compact, carry-on bicycle with an enclosed, drive assembly, comprising:
a shared chassis space including at least a portion of a folding chassis assembly that encloses at least a substantial portion of a drive assembly during operation of the bicycle, the substantial portion of the drive assembly comprising the crankshaft and at least a substantial portion of the drive member; the folding chassis assembly including a channel having a height ranging from about 4″ to about 14″ and operably attached to (i) a rotatably-lockable front strut supporting a front wheel assembly having a single front wheel, the front strut having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the front strut attaching to the channel at a rotatably-lockable front strut pivot; and (ii) a rotatably-lockable rear strut supporting a rear wheel assembly having a rear wheel, the rear strut having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the rear strut attaching to the channel at a rotatably-lockable rear strut pivot; the channel configured for
receiving the front strut and the rear strut upon a collapsing of the bicycle, the collapsing including rotating the rotatably-lockable front strut into the channel at the rotatably-lockable front strut pivot and rotating the rotatably-lockable rear strut into the channel at the rotatably-lockable rear strut pivot, the channel covering the entire diameter of the front wheel and the entire diameter of the rear wheel upon the collapsing; wherein,
the drive assembly includes a pair of pedals attached to a pair of crankarms, the pair of crankarms attached to a crankshaft, the crankshaft having a crank axis that rotates under a pedal power in a fixed position in the chassis, the crankshaft in an operable communication with a drive member, the drive member in an operable communication with the rear wheel and having a fixably rotatable pivot point corresponding to a fixably rotatable joint in the chassis assembly for a re-direction of the pedal power from the crankshaft to the pivot point and from the pivot point to the wheel, and the drive assembly transferring the pedal power from the crankshaft to drive the rear wheel.